Stair construction



Nov. 26,1923. lm@

V. E. RUDLOFF sTAlR CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 21. 1922 f ATTORNEYS.

Patented liti-nv., 251i, i923.

will

VINCENTE. RUDLOFF, OF MAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

STIR CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed January 2l, 1922. Serial No. 530,805.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that i. VINCENT E. Runnorr, a citizen ot the United States. residing at Maplewood, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey. have invented certain new and useful improvements in Stair Constructions: and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear. and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same9 reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters oireference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates. generally, to inprovements in the construction of stairs; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to an improved' construction and arrangement of elements for building fireproof metallic stairs.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a novel arrangement and com` bination of elements for building metallic stair structures, whereby simplicity, strength and ornamental characteristics are atta-ined with a Vminimum expenditure of cost and labor. i

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for operatively interconnecting the treads and risers of the stair structure to the stringers.

@their objects of this invention. not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following' detailed description of the saine.

lilith the various objects of this invention in view the same consists, primarily, in the novel stair structure hereinafter set forth; and the invention consists,r furthermore in the novel arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described, and then finally embodied in the clains appended hereto.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the ac'companying` drawings in which Figure l is a perspective view of the. novel stair struc-ture made. according to and embodying the principles of this invention, and in'said view certain portions ofthe structure are shown broken away to show underlying parts and elements of the stair construction.-

Figure 2 [is a fragmentary transverse section showing a novelcoupling element employed to interconnect a stair riser with the stringers of the structure.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross section of the outer Stringer. showing the means for attaching and the relation of an ornamental facing member thereto.

higure i is a fragmentary perspective of the riser coupling device.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross section and perspective of a modified form of outer Stringer and ornamental facing member therefor. Y

Figure 6 is `a fragmentary perspective view of a riser showing relation of the treads thereto.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a novel tread supporting or reenforcing bracket or element for connection with the stringers.

Figure 8 is a perspective View .of a modiiied form of said novel tread supporting or reenforcing bracket or element.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts` Referring now to saiid drawings. tlie reference characters 9 'and 10 indicate the stringere, which are inclined to extend. in parallel laterally spaced apart relation, from one floor level to another. Said stringers maybe made of pressed sheet metal or channel iron, thereby providing the longitudinal outwardly projected right angle flanges ll `at their top and bottom edges, so that the body of the inner Stringer is spaced from the building wall l2, and the body oi the outer Stringer is spaced from the ornamental facing member adapted to be associated therewith as will presently appeal'. Formed in said strfinocrs are pairs of \'ertically alined and spaced perpeniilicular slots l2, the same being` spaced apart to occupy positions corresponding to the points at which the stair risers 13 are to be placed.

The means for attaching said risers 13 to and between the stringers 9 and l0, comprise a novel construction of interconnecting unit or anchor coupling. each consisting of a perpendicular metallic anchor plate 14C provided at one longitudinal edge with integrally formed coupling hooks 15, which eX- tend outwardly from said edge in the plane of said anchor plate.` Said coupling hooks 15 are spaced vertically apart to correspond to the vertical spacing of the members of said pairs of perpendicular slots l2 provided in the stringers 9 and 10. Since said slots extension between the stringers.

labor and time.

12 are ot a length sufficient to permit the coupling hooks 15 olf the anchor plates 14 to be entered or inserted therethrough, the builder or workman merely lines up the coupling hooks 15 with a pair ot slots and then thrusts the former through the latter, and thereupon thrusts downwardly upon the anchor plate 14 to engage the hookends 15 over the rear sui-tace ot the stringeil body at the bottoms ot said slots 12. thereby securing said anchorv plate in perpendicular disposition and projectingat right angles Jfrom the plane oi' the outer surface of the Stringer. The body of each anchor plate is provided with suitably disposed holes or perforations 16. When the interconnecting units or anchor couplings are thus attached to the stringers, the same disposed in pairs, the members ol which are respectively attached to the stringers in laterally opposed relation ready to receive the attachnientoi the risers 1) thereto. lt will be apparent that the said interconnecting units or anchor couplings may be very quickly and easily attached t the stringers without necessity of employingl tools or separable fastening means, such as nuts and bolts, screws, or the like, thus saving both 'it will also be noted that the novel interconnecting units or anchor couplings are so constructed that thc hooks are selt positioning, and that no bending, clinching or other similar operations are rcquired to operatively associate the same with the stringers. The ends ot thc risers 13 are laid against the outer laces ot said anchor plates 14, the same being punched with holes or per'torations 1T to match or aline themselves with the holes or perforations 16 provided in said anchor plates, so that when the riser is in position the stair builder or workman may insert through the matched openings or perfor-ations 1G auf. 1T suitable fastening means 1S, such as rivets, bolts or the like, whereby the riser is perinanently secured in perpendicular position Yfor v Said risers 13 are preferably provided at their lower longitudinal margins with integrally formed outwardly projecting right angled or horizontal lower flanges or supporting lips 19, which extend toward the riser next below, while at their upper longitudinal margins, the risers are provided with integrally formed inwardly projecting right angled or horizontal upper flanges or supporting lips 20. which extend toward the riser next above. As thus arranged the flange or supporting lip 20 of one riser lies in a horizontal plane corresponding to the plane of said flange or supporting lip 19 ot the next adjacent riser above, and consequently said. flanges or supporting` lips 19 and 2O are grouped in pairs between each pair of adj cent risers, so that the same are disposed to support, a treadplate 21 in horizontal plane between the same, as shown. Thetread plates 21 may be secured to said flanges or supporting lips 19 and 20 by screws, or any other convenient fastening means if desired. 1t will be understood that in stair structures ot the lighter types, the said flanges or supporting lips 19 and 20 afford suliicient support for the tread plates, and consequently no additional support springing from or connected with the stringers is needed. In stair structures of the heavier types, it is desirable to provide a reen'iorcing support connected with the stringers, and to this end I have provided a novel construction ot tread supporting or reenorcing bracket Jfor attachment to the stringers, and adapted to engage and support the ends of the tread-plates 21 intermediate the flanges 19 and 20. This novelsupporting or reentorcing bracket comprises a horizontal plate or body 22 preferably made of metal, and having its ends turned downwardly at right angles to the plane of said plate or body to forni buttresses 23. rearwardly from said buttresses, and integrally formedtherewith, are coupling hook portions 24. Formed in said stringersare pairs of horizontally alined and spaced perpendicular' slots 25, the same being spaced apart to occupy positionscorresponding to the points at which the-ends of said treadplates 21 abut against the stringers. Said slots 25 are of a length suliicient to permit the coupling hooks 24 ot the supporting or reenforcing brackets to be entered or inserted therethrough, so that the builder or workman merely lines up the coupling hooks 24 with a pair of slots 25and then thrusts the former through the latter, and thereupon thrusts downwardly upon the plate. or body 22 to engage the hook ends 24 over the rear surtaceof the Stringer body at'the bottoms ot' said slots. thereby securing the supporting plate or body 22 in horizontal disposition and projecting at right angles from the plane of the outer surface-ot the stringer. The plate or body 22 is provided with one or more pertorations or holes 26. When said supporting or reeni-'orcing brackets are thus attached to the stringers, the same are disposed in pairs, the membersv of which are respectively attached to the stringers in laterally opposed relationready to receive the attachment of the ends ofthe treadplates 21 thereto. It will be apparent, that in this case also, the said supporting or reenforcing brackets may be very quickly and easily attached to the stringers without necessity of employing tools orV separable fastening means, such as nuts and bolts, screws,V

or the like, thus saving both labor and time in erecting the structure.A It will also be clear that no bending, clinching or similar operations are necessary, since the coupling Pro] ecting hooks 24; automatically embrace the wall of the stringersv-,f'hen dropped over the lower end of the slotted portions thereof. rthe ends of the tread-plates 2l will rest upon and be supported by the plate or body 22. said ends being punched with ho`es or perfo rations to match those of the plate or bod'v 22, so that suitable fastening means 27, such as rivets, bolts or the like, may be employed to firmly secure the tread-plates to said plates or bodies 22.

If desired' the supporting orh reenforcing brackets n'iay be made in the modified form shown in Figure S in which case a single butti-ess portion 28 may project from the underside of the plate or body 29, inte-rmediate the ends of the latter, and said buttress may be. provided with a single couplingi` hook 30. In such case the stringers 3l are provided with a single slot 32 to receive said coupling` hook 30, all as shown in said Figure 8.

After the risers 13 and tread-plates 2l have been connected, in the manner heretofore described, to and betweenthe stringere 9 and l0, tread members or tops 33 may be secured upon the tread-plates in any suitable manner. Said tread members or tops 33 may be made of wood, slate, fibre, composition or of any other desired material. It desired the outer faces of the risers 13 may be covered with facing' members (not shown) of material adapted to provide the desired finish and appearance.

lVhen the stairs are open at one side` the outer or exposed sit-ringer l() may be provided with a facing plate or molding 34; of any desired conformation designed to produce a desired finish or ornamental effect. Said facing plate or molding 34 will cover the channel of the Stringer 10, and may be secured in assembled relation to the latter by rivets 35, or other suitable fasteninp; means.

In Figure 4 I have shown a modified forni of outer or exposed Stringer, together with a cap rail and facing; plate or niolding therefor. In this construction the outer or exposed Stringer comprises a Stringer plate 3G. `suitably punched to receive the anchor couplings and supporting brackets for atta ching the risers and treads. Said Stringer plate possesses no longitudinal flanges, but associated with its upper longitudinal edge is a cap-rail 37, having inwardly off set depending` longitudinal flanges 38. against one of which said upper longitudinal mar- ,ejinal portion of said Stringer plate is arranged. A facing plate or molding,` 39 is provided, the upper longitudinal marginal portion of which is secured against the other of said flanges 38 of the cap rail, while the lower longitudinal edge of said facing plate or molding 39 is provided with an inwardly projecting right angles flange portion -lll which engages against the lower edge of said stringer plate to hold the fac ing plate or molding 39 properly off-set from the Stringer plate.

The halusters il for supporting a hand rail, (not shown) may be attached to the upper flange of the stringer l0 in the one case, or to the cap-rail 37 in the other case.

I am. aware that some changes may be made in the several arrangements and conibinations of the devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, without departing from the scope of this invention as set forth in the foregoing,r specification, and as defined in the appended claims. Hence, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and conibinations of the various devices and parts as described in said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of said parts as illustra-ted in the accompanying' drawings.

I claim:

1. In a stair structure` the combination with stringere provided with pairs of vertically alined and spaced vertical slots of anchor plates, each anchor plate having coupling` hooks engaaeable in a pair of said slots to dispose said anchor plates in vertical disposition for projection from the opposed faces of said stringers, risers extending between said stringere and having their respective ends secured to laterally opposed anchor plates, and tread plates secured between said risers.

2. In a stair structure, the combination with stringere provided with pairs of vertically alined and spaced vertical slots of anchor plates, each anchor plate havingT coupling` hooks engageable in a pair of said slots to dispose said anchor plates in vertical disposition for projection from the opposed faces of said. stringers. risers extending between said stiinggers and having their respective ends secured to laterallj.' opposed anchor plates, said risers. havingv inwardly projecting flanges at their upper longitudinal edges. said risers harinaY out- .wardly proiectine flanges at their lower lon- Ieitudinal edges. tread plates, and the upper .flange of one riser forming in combination with the lower Harige of the next riser above supports for a tread plate extending between said adjacent risers.

In a stair structure, the combination with stringere provided with pairs of vertically alined and spaced vertical slots and pairs of horizontally alined and spaced vertical slots intermediate said pairs of verticall;u alined slots of step structures comprising` risers and tread plates, anchor plates, each anchor plate having' coupling hooks engageable in a pair of said vertically alined and spaced slots to dispose said anchor plates in vertical disposition for projection from the opposed iaces of said stringere, supporting brackets, cach supporting bracket having coupling' hooks engageable in a pair oll said horizontally alinefl and spaced slots to dispose said brackets in horizont-al dispositiim for projection iti-oni the opposed faces oi" said stringere, said risers extending between said stringers and having their respective ends secured to later ally opposed anchor plates, and said tread plates extending between said stringers intermediate said risers and having their respective ends secured to laterally opposed brackets.

4l. In a stair structure, the combination with stringere provided with pairs ot ver tically alined and spaced vertical slots and pairs othorizontally alined and space-d vertical slots intermediate said pairs oi rertically alined slots of step structures comprising risers and tread plates, anchor plates, each anchor plate having coupling hooks engageable in a pair ot said vertically alined slots to dispose said anc ior plates in vertical disposition tor projection 'trom the opposed faces of said stringere. supporting brackets, each supporting vbracket `having coupling hooks engageable in a `pair ot said horizontally alined slots-t0 dispose said brackets in horizontal disposition for projection from the opposed laces ot said stringere, said risers extending between said stringers and having their respective ends secured to laterally opposed anchor plates, said tread plates extending between said stii'ingers intermediate said risers and having their respective ends securedto laterally opposed brackets, said risers having inwardly projecting flanges at their upper longitudinal edges, said risers having outwardly projecting flanges at their lower longitudinal edges, and the upper flange of one riser and the lower flange of the next adjacent riser Y.torniing supports 'For the longitudinal marginal portions ot intermediate tread-plates.

5. In a stair structure, a pair ot laterally opposed stringere, vertical anchor plates tor projection from the 'opposed 'faces of said stringere, said anchor plates having cou*` pling hook means, said stringere having openings through which said coupling hook means may be passed to engage over the walls of said stringers adjacent to said openings, risers haring their ends secured to opramasse posed anchor plates, tieadplates, ano said risers having means for support tread plates intermediate adjacent 6. In a stair structure, a pair ot laterally opposed stringers, vertical anchor plates 'tor projection trom the opposed faces ci' said stringere, said anchor plates having coupling hook means, said stringere having openin through which said coupling hook means may be passed to engage over the walls ot said stringers adjacent to said openinas. horizontal supporting brackets tor pro tion from the opposed V'laces ot said stringers, aid brackets having coupling hook means, said stringers having additional openings through which said bracket coupling hook means may be passed to engage over the walls ciZ said stringiers adjacent to said additional openings, risers adapted to be connected to said anchor plates for extension between said stringere, and treadfplates adapted to be connected to said brackets tor extension between said stringere intermediate said risers.

7. In a stair structure, a pair of laterally opposed stringere. vertical anchor plates t'or projection from the opposed faces of said stringere, said anchor plates having' coupling hook means, said stringers haring openings through which said coupling hook means nay be passed to engage over the walls ot said stringere adjacent to said' openings, horizontal supporting brackets For projec tion irom the opposed faces oi said stringers, said brackets having couplingl hook means, said stringere having additional openings through which said bracket coupling hook means may be passed to engage over the walls er" said stringere adjacent to said additional openings, risers adapted to be connected to said anchor plates for extension between said stringers, tread-plates adapted to be connected to said brackets 'for exten sion between said stringers intermediate said risers, and said risers having means `'lor supjiiorting said 'tread-plates at their longitudinal edge portions.

In testimony, that l claim the invention set forth above l ha fe hereunto set my hand this 17th day ot January, 1922. l

VINCENT E. RUDLUF'F.

said

lVitnesses GEORGE D. RICHARDS, HOWARD R. Lnwrs, 

